This week's Clip joint is by Tara Ghai, who blogs about film at iheartthetalkies.com. Follow her on Twitter here. If you've got an idea for a future clip joint, drop an email to adam.boult@guardian.co.uk.

The 1980s was a golden era for fantasy films, and especially fantasy films featuring magical creatures. Often a sidekick for the human protagonist, these characters provided assistance, comic relief, and an abundance of cuteness. They also battled against less benign foes, and found a place in the hearts of child and childlike viewers. Here's five of my favourites.

Gizmo encapsulates that unmistakable 1980s trend to render all things family-friendly. It was Steven Spielberg's idea to build up the mogwai's role in the film, making it lighter in tone than originally conceived.

Labyrinth has a cornucopia of magical creatures, but Sir Didymus elevates himself above the rest thanks to his courage, loyalty, and keen sense of style. One of the oddballs that Sarah picks up on her way through the Labyrinth, what Sir Didymus lacks in sense of smell, he makes up for in eccentricity.

Was there a better way for the hero of a 1980s fantasy movie to travel than on Falkor? I think not. Falkor is a luck dragon, a breed of magical creature that looks remarkably like a dog. The luck dragon rescues the film's protagonist Atreyu a number of times, offering him a soft place to nap while doing so.

Locksmith and inventor Gwildor unwittingly sets off a chain of events in Masters of the Universe which results in He-Man, Skeletor and co arriving on Earth. It is unclear exactly what type of creature Gwildor is, but he is on hand to provide humour and advice despite confessing to not liking adventures. He also rocks gold ribbons in his hair at the end of the film.

In a world full of magical creatures, Fizzgig stands out as the pet-like companion of Kira. With two sets of teeth and an abundance of hair, Fizzgig proves to be a useful, if occasionally annoying sidekick to The Dark Crystal's two heroes. Plus, he throws quite a tantrum.

2. Mariner70: "Full Metal Jacket, in the first muster in boot camp, where Pvts. Joker and Pyle get their nicknames...and Pyle's slow destruction starts when he can't stop smiling."

3. GordonBeanConrad12: "The final scene in Kubrick's Dr Strangelove where the Russian ambassador can't keep a straight face as Peter Sellers at 2m45s"

4. Thesubhuman: "One notorious corpser was Dudley Moore,so during this scene, where he is treated to a piano recital, it's hard to tell how much is acting as he struggles to keep a straight face."

5. homard: "At the risk of being condemned as a romantic old fool , ..... I have always believed that Jeanne Moreau is genuinely having a laugh all the way through these 3 1/2 minutes of classic Truffaut"